となると
When, If, Once, As
Structure
Verb［る］+ と + （も） + なると(2)
(1) に
(2) なれば
Explanation
となると is used to express that when a specific, often significant, condition (A) comes to pass, a certain result (B) will naturally or inevitably occur. It carries the nuance that reaching state (A) triggers a definite outcome (B). Common translations include 'when it comes to (A), (B)' or 'once (A) is the case, then (B)'. A more direct interpretation would be 'if it becomes (A), then it's a given that (B)'.
This grammar pattern also appears in the forms ともなると, となれば, and ともなれば. The particle も simply adds a bit more emphasis to the condition. Although ば and と can have different nuances in other contexts, for this particular grammar point, they are considered to be effectively interchangeable.
となると can be attached directly to nouns, or to verbs in their standard form.
- 主役が怪我をするともなると、優勝するのは難しくなるだろう。If our main player gets injured, winning the championship will probably become very difficult.
- 海外に留学するともなれば、かなりの費用が必要になる。When it comes to studying abroad, it's going to require a significant amount of money.
- 大晦日ともなると、どこの電車も満員だ。Once New Year's Eve arrives, every train is packed.
- 部長ともなれば、その責任も大きくなる。When you become a department manager, your responsibilities naturally get a lot bigger.
The particle も can also appear after the topic of a sentence using ともなると, where it serves to place extra stress on that topic.
- どんなに静かな子供も、お祭りともなるとはしゃいでしまう。Even the quietest child will get excited and play around once a festival begins.
Fun Fact
The sense of inevitability in this grammar point comes largely from the initial particle と. This is why になると cannot be used to express the same nuance. In Japanese, と often implies that an outcome is a natural, unavoidable, or expected consequence. In contrast, に simply marks the change or transition from state (A) to state (B).
- 冬となると日が短くなる。Once it's winter, the days inevitably get shorter. (A natural and unavoidable result of the season)
- 冬になると日が短くなる。When it becomes winter, the days get shorter. (A simple statement of fact about the change that happens in winter)
Examples
社長ともなると、会社の未来について常に考えなければならない。
Once you become the company president, you have to constantly think about the future of the company.
普段は賑やかなこの通りも、深夜ともなると人通りが全くなくなる。
This street is usually bustling, but when it gets late at night, it becomes completely deserted.
小学生の頃は毎日遊んでいたが、中学生ともなると部活や勉強で忙しくなる。
As an elementary school student, I used to play every day, but once you get to middle school, you become busy with club activities and studying.
卒業ともなると、今まで当たり前だった友達との時間も貴重に感じられる。
When graduation is just around the corner, the time you spend with friends, which you once took for granted, starts to feel precious.
趣味で始めたことでも、専門家レベルともなると、それなりの知識と技術が求められる。
Even if it's something you started as a hobby, once you reach an expert level, a corresponding amount of knowledge and skill is required.
年末ともなると、どこもかしこも大掃除で忙しくなる。
When the end of the year rolls around, everyone everywhere gets busy with the big year-end cleaning.
自分も親ともなると、昔の両親の厳しさが理解できるようになった。
Once you become a parent yourself, you can finally understand why your own parents were so strict back in the day.
いつもは冷静な選手でも、決勝戦ともなると、緊張で体が硬くなるようだ。
Even for a player who is normally calm, when it comes to the final match, it seems their body stiffens up with nerves.
一人暮らしともなると、家事の大変さが身にしみて分かる。
Once you start living alone, you truly understand just how difficult household chores can be.
この仕事も３年目ともなると、一通りのことは誰にも聞かずにできるようになった。
Once you're in your third year at this job, you can pretty much handle the routine tasks without asking for help.
普段はのんびりしている学生も、試験の前日ともなると、必死に勉強を始める。
Even students who are normally relaxed will start cramming for their exams when it gets to be the day before.
大企業の部長ともなると、年収はかなり高いが、その分ストレスも大きいだろう。
Once you become a department head at a large corporation, your annual salary is probably quite high, but I imagine the stress is equally significant.